Visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach has to be one of the best experiences in the world for nature lovers. These cheeky wee fellas turned up in Cape Town sometime in the early 80s, decided they quite liked it and never left. Read on for how to visit South Africa’s famous penguin colony…
Where
You can find Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town, a one-hour drive along the coast from central Cape Town. Hiring a rental car is by far the easiest way of exploring Cape Town, however there is also a train from the central city to Simon’s Town (a 30 minute walk from Boulders Beach).
How Much
You will need to pay a conservation fee to enter the beach, as it is part of the Table Mountain National Park. This species of penguin is only found along the southern coast of Africa (South Africa and Namibia) and is under threat from extinction, so paying the fee helps keep them safe.
What to see
There are two sections at Boulders Beach. The first is a large roped-off area where you will see most of the penguins. There are viewing platforms where you can get close to the penguins without disturbing their resting and breeding areas. The second is a sheltered beach where you’re free to sunbathe and swim amongst the giant boulders. The penguins will often make their way around and swim in the sea with you – an experience not to be missed!
When to visit
Early mornings and evenings are when the penguins are at their most active, but you’re pretty much guaranteed a sighting at any time of day. I’d recommend visiting during the spring/summer months if possible so that you can go swimming (October – March).
Top Tips
Pack a picnic and an umbrella so that you can relax and spend a few hours at the beach. There are a couple of cafes around but they’re pretty overpriced.
You can find more information about the Boulders Beach penguin colony on the SANParks website.
Yes, I love this beach! I was fortunate enough to be able to visit during my study abroad semester in South Africa. However, we just spent a short time at the beach. Next time I am in the area I will definitely plan to spend some more time here.